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Are you unhappy in your chosen career and ready for a change? Completely changing careers can be daunting. But there are steps you can take now to help you successfully change your career and find a new job more aligned with your talents, interests, and passions.
But where do you start? Once I decide, what steps do I take to make the move? These are a couple of the basic questions that beg for answers.
To help guide those considering a career change, we’ve listed 12 steps you can take on your path to a successful career change. I think you’ll find it’s much easier than you think.
Evaluate Your Current Career
It’s useful to learn from the past when planning for the future. Spend some time evaluating your current career. Think about what aspects of the job you enjoyed and what you didn’t enjoy. This will help you when choosing your next career.
Identify What Motivates You
Think about all the things that motivate you and write them down. It could be something as simple as creativity or financial gains or more complex like mentoring others or working in a tech-driven field. Pick the top three or four, and then, when looking at potential career paths, assess them to see which fits best with your motivators.
Decide What You Want in a Career
Consider what you want and don’t want from your future career—research different options to learn about them and how they would fit your skills and interests.
Identify Areas for Development and Growth
Sometimes, an alternative career path isn’t about finding something that fits your current skills. Consider whether there are any new skills you’ve been interested in learning and how to develop your existing skills further. It may open up new career paths for you.
Set Clear Goals
Setting clear goals is a vital step when changing careers. It will help you create a precise roadmap for your professional growth and stay motivated and focused. Make sure your goals are well-defined, measurable, and achievable so you don’t get discouraged.
Make a Plan
Once you have your goals in place, break them down into easily manageable steps and set realistic deadlines for completing each step. Check your progress often to stay on track.
Network
Ask people in your current field if they know and can connect you with people in your new field. You can also look for and attend local networking events to help make new connections in the field you want to move into.
Work With a Mentor
If possible, find a mentor to work with you. They can provide insights into your new career path and general career advice. They can also provide feedback on your work, which will help you grow your skills and confidence.
Improve Your Communication Skills
Clear communication is vital for building relationships, expressing ideas, and understanding tasks effectively. It is important to be a good listener and express yourself confidently.
Create a Specific Cover Letter & Resume for Every Job Application
Looking for a new career means updating your resume. Add a summary at the top of your resume to show you’re making a career change. Then, focus on your skills and how they, and your past work experience, can apply to a new career. Start with a basic resume and cover letter, then tweak it a little for every application so it’s geared more towards each one.
Include Coursework and Certifications That Relate to the New Career
When creating your resume, include any coursework or certifications you are currently taking or have already achieved that apply to the role you are applying for. It will show hiring managers you are serious about your career change.
Prep for Interviews
Any hiring manager will probably ask you why you want to leave your current industry or job. Make sure you’re ready with a well-thought-out answer that shows them you are prepared for the change and will perform your new job well.
15 Highest Paying Jobs That Nobody Wants
Truthfully, almost all the best high-paying jobs no one wants to work are blue-collar jobs. Working in the trades can sound intimidating, but it comes with great benefits, high pay, and job security.
Despite the pros, not a lot of people turn to the trades. If you’re feeling stuck, you may want to consider one of these high-paying jobs.
To curate this list, we chose jobs where you could earn at least $25 an hour. These jobs are also high in demand. To find out how in demand, we used Indeed and ZipRecruiter.
Here are 15 high-paying jobs that nobody wants.
- Read More: 15 Highest Paying Jobs That Nobody Wants
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United States workers are experiencing record levels of workplace stress, and the American Institute of Stress (AIS) outlines the impact on workers’ wellness in a recent ComPsych survey. The outlook isn’t good — 62% of workers cited tensions due to a lack of autonomy or extreme tiredness. Moreover, work priorities are taking over citizens’ lives, with the sources of anxiety stemming from workload, coworkers, and performance improvements.
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Interviewers are tired of hearing the same responses over and over again. They want to hear something original. Employers also want to know legitimate ways that candidates can improve their work. Sometimes, shedding some light on an improvable weakness or two can make all the difference.
